THOUSANDS of people took advantage of fine spring weather to flock to a popular countryside festival in south Wirral.

Visitors were treated to displays by freefall parachutists and a falconry team during the two-day event at the Parkgate Showground in Backwood Hall.

The festival also acted as a showcase for around 260 exhibitors - including horticulturalists and producers of speciality foods - as well as demonstrations by the region's leading chefs.

Although the event celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, it was the first time the weekend event was held at its new venue in Parkgate.

Formerly known as the Ness Gardens Festival, it has now become the South Wirral Spring Garden and Countryside Festival.

It aims to offer all the sights, scents and colours of a traditional garden festival, along with a range of events for those less interested in horticulture.

The move to a bigger site was made necessary by the growth of the visitor attractions. It is estimated more than 10,000 people visited the site over the course of the two-day event.

Organiser Kelvin Pye said: "The good weather certainly helped to attract such a big crowd.

"The purpose-built showground meant we were able to offer a lot more attractions for visitors, such as the North West Fire Brigades' parachute team,, Firestorm, and the display by Ridgeside Falconry.

"There were also displays of speciality plants by 35 horticulturalists from across Merseyside and Cheshire, and demonstrations by local celebrity chefs in the Speciality Foods marquee proved extremely popular.

"This was the first year we've held the event at the new venue, as it has grown into a very big show over the past 10 years.

"The move has proved a great success. and it has been a wonderful very successful weekend.

"The show is going to grow and grow every year, and next year we are hoping to get the Red Arrows flying team to put on a display."

In the food hall, a number of top chefs gave mouth-watering cookery demonstrations.

They included TV chef Brian Mellor, Garrett Forsey, who runs his own restaurant in Bebington, and head chef Brian Heron from Thornton Hall Hotel.

Among the other attractions were plant and equipment stands, and a gardening Question Time.